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The Old Man · 11-14-2009, 09:16 AM

I wonder if we really need or want an eBook?

I recently bought an Asus NetBook from Amazon, model 1005HA, and I am beginning to think my purchase of the Sony Touch 600 was a mistake. Here are my Cons, Neutrals and Pros comparing an eBook (my Sony but any model you think best) and my NetBook.

Cons:
The NetBook is heavier, about 3 pounds compared to 11 oz for the Reader.

Thicker, about 1 ½ inches compared to ¾ inch for the Reader in its lighted case.

The NetBook is 3 inches by 1 inch (width/length) bigger than the Reader.

The battery life on the Asus is advertised at 10 hours but actually is a good 7 plus, while the Reader is good for many days – depending… If I am going to be gone for more than 1 day I must carry the power supply. I could be gone for several days without the power supply for the Reader. But, if you are also taking a laptop computer this item becomes a pro, not a con.

Neutral:
Readability – the eBook uses “ink” while the NetBook is backlit. I have now used both and am neutral on this item but your opinion may vary and probably does. Remember, the brightness is adjustable on the NetBook.

Holding/Reading/Page turning - I hold the Asus on my lap or if I plan on doing any typing on a table. The Sony I can hold in one and or two hands. Actual page turning is neutral in my opinion but this is dependent on which program I am running on the Asus. I give it a neutral.

The Reader is great in sunlight, poor in dim lighting conditions. The Asus just the opposite. As I read more indoors it is a plus for the NetBook but your reading may be more outdoors.

Both have a flash drive slot.

Pros:
With the Asus I have a real computer with a real keyboard. I can do everything you do with a computer including typing this, sending email, playing games, surfing the Internet and reading MobileRead forums.

With eBook reading programs from Calibre, Amazon, Sony, Barns & Noble, MobiPocket and TomeRaider I can download any format book, buying from whom I like, getting the lowest price available and read it with no conversion.

PDF, DOC, HTML, etc. books read as normal, with no conversion, scrolling down, or PgDn key to view the entire page.

There is color!

I get less reflection from the NetBook screen than from the eBook.

There are USB ports to add stuff.

With the mouse (touchpad) you actually have a touch screen.

I find I spend much less time transferring reading material from my computer to the eBook. Actually no time as there is no conversion. I download to the Asus and read it in the program that matches the download. The only time spent is when I must transfer items from my desktop to the NetBook.

I can copy and past to my own notes using the program I want as much as I want, adding pictures or diagrams as I want.

I use a Bible program quite a bit (eSword is a free download) and it is thousands of times better than any Bible program I’ve seen for an eBook. I imagine this is true for any reference program you may use frequently.

I have a dictionary and a spellchecker.

With wireless available I have the entire Internet for reference.

If traveling I want my NetBook with me. I don’t need to take the Reader except if I can’t get to a power supply (mains) in a day or so. Why bother taking both computer and Reader when one will suffice?

I can buy, carry and self-install a spare battery for the Asus. I can’t for the Sony Reader.

To sum up:

The biggest, and in my opinion, the only drawback in the NetBook is the limitation of the battery. If you can live with charging the battery every day or two the NetBook has all the advantages.

11-14-2009, 09:16 AM	#1
The Old Man Fanatic Posts: 546 Karma: 1337413 Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Keene, New Hampshire Device: iPad Mini	A NetBook vs. an eBook I wonder if we really need or want an eBook? I recently bought an Asus NetBook from Amazon, model 1005HA, and I am beginning to think my purchase of the Sony Touch 600 was a mistake. Here are my Cons, Neutrals and Pros comparing an eBook (my Sony but any model you think best) and my NetBook. Cons: The NetBook is heavier, about 3 pounds compared to 11 oz for the Reader. Thicker, about 1 ½ inches compared to ¾ inch for the Reader in its lighted case. The NetBook is 3 inches by 1 inch (width/length) bigger than the Reader. The battery life on the Asus is advertised at 10 hours but actually is a good 7 plus, while the Reader is good for many days – depending… If I am going to be gone for more than 1 day I must carry the power supply. I could be gone for several days without the power supply for the Reader. But, if you are also taking a laptop computer this item becomes a pro, not a con. Neutral: Readability – the eBook uses “ink” while the NetBook is backlit. I have now used both and am neutral on this item but your opinion may vary and probably does. Remember, the brightness is adjustable on the NetBook. Holding/Reading/Page turning - I hold the Asus on my lap or if I plan on doing any typing on a table. The Sony I can hold in one and or two hands. Actual page turning is neutral in my opinion but this is dependent on which program I am running on the Asus. I give it a neutral. The Reader is great in sunlight, poor in dim lighting conditions. The Asus just the opposite. As I read more indoors it is a plus for the NetBook but your reading may be more outdoors. Both have a flash drive slot. Pros: With the Asus I have a real computer with a real keyboard. I can do everything you do with a computer including typing this, sending email, playing games, surfing the Internet and reading MobileRead forums. With eBook reading programs from Calibre, Amazon, Sony, Barns & Noble, MobiPocket and TomeRaider I can download any format book, buying from whom I like, getting the lowest price available and read it with no conversion. PDF, DOC, HTML, etc. books read as normal, with no conversion, scrolling down, or PgDn key to view the entire page. There is color! I get less reflection from the NetBook screen than from the eBook. There are USB ports to add stuff. With the mouse (touchpad) you actually have a touch screen. I find I spend much less time transferring reading material from my computer to the eBook. Actually no time as there is no conversion. I download to the Asus and read it in the program that matches the download. The only time spent is when I must transfer items from my desktop to the NetBook. I can copy and past to my own notes using the program I want as much as I want, adding pictures or diagrams as I want. I use a Bible program quite a bit (eSword is a free download) and it is thousands of times better than any Bible program I’ve seen for an eBook. I imagine this is true for any reference program you may use frequently. I have a dictionary and a spellchecker. With wireless available I have the entire Internet for reference. If traveling I want my NetBook with me. I don’t need to take the Reader except if I can’t get to a power supply (mains) in a day or so. Why bother taking both computer and Reader when one will suffice? I can buy, carry and self-install a spare battery for the Asus. I can’t for the Sony Reader. To sum up: The biggest, and in my opinion, the only drawback in the NetBook is the limitation of the battery. If you can live with charging the battery every day or two the NetBook has all the advantages.